Spindle Hill Farm’s Schoolhouse | Fire pit, Pond
Entire home in Nellysford, Virginia
- 6 guests
- 3 bedrooms
- 3 beds
- 2 baths
Hosted by Elise
- Superhost
- 13 years hosting
Listing highlights
Top 1% of homes
This home is one of the highest ranked based on ratings, reviews, and reliability.
Private ponds and trails on 50 acres
Two creek-fed ponds with a dock, inner tubes, kayaks, a fire pit, and 50 acres of hiking trails
Elise is an exceptional host
Guests call it one of the most special stays they've had, with many praising Elise's hospitality
A solar-powered 1932 schoolhouse on 50 acres of farm & forest— huge original windows, hardwood floors, two ponds with a dock, and a kitchen stocked like it means it. Three bedrooms, two colorful bathrooms, sleeps six. Fireplace. Private hiking trails through the woods, a gas fire pit, and charcoal grill. Fast fiber internet. EV charger. Hidden and private, but 2 minutes from Devils Backbone and right in the heart of the 151 Brew Ridge Trail. An honest-to-goodness one of a kind. Come see it.
The space
This is a one-of-a-kind treasure that we are proud to steward! The historic Rosenwald-style schoolhouse at Spindle Hill Farm sits on 50-acres in the heart of Nelson County — solar powered, pond-fed, and unlike anything else in our area. We are the fourth private owner since the school closed, and we've tried to be exceptional caretakers of its history: the original enormous window bank, the hardwood floors, and the bones of the building are all intact. What we've added is color, art, comfort, and a kitchen that means business.
It's our beloved family home, and we're excited to share it.
THE GREAT ROOM
The original schoolhouse windows flood the great room with extraordinary light and frame views of two creek-fed ponds and the Blue Ridge Mountains beyond. It's a stunning space. Hardwood floors from the original construction, original art, locally sourced antiques, a large comfortable sofa, and a dining table that seats 8-10. Built-in bookshelves hold board games, puzzles, and books for children and adults — including a collection of local history and nature guides.
THE KITCHEN: small but mighty!
Incorporated into the great room and stocked like it means it. With an LG induction stove with convection oven, Bosch dishwasher, full-size fridge, microwave. We have a drip machine, grinder, French press, and Chemex for coffee. Blender, food processor, rice cooker, and — yes — a tortilla press. China, table linens, pottery, pans for every shape of cake, and casseroles galore. Our local wine shop, Basic Necessities, will suggest exactly the right bottle — pick it up on your way home to the porch.
THE BEDROOMS
Three bedrooms sleep six, with real privacy between them.
The primary bedroom has an organic latex queen bed, an antique chest of drawers, and a large en-suite bathroom with a separate soaking tub and shower. There is also ample closet space and many mirrors for primping!
The pink bedroom is so lovely — windows on two sides, a comfortable double bed, a generous desk for anyone who needs to sneak in some work, and a large closet stocked with yoga and PT supplies. The vibrant teal hall bathroom is right next door, with a tub and shower.
The third bedroom is papered in 1930s wallpaper and has a very comfortable latex Murphy bed — a beautiful, characterful room that’s set a bit apart from the others. (Please note that this room doesn’t have any window treatments).
OEKO-tex certified European linen and organic cotton sheets throughout. We use environmentally conscious bath and cleaning products and sustainable paper goods. You will love our pure, delicious well water — leave the bottled water at home— the water is why we have so many breweries in the neighborhood!
Portable Baby Björn crib available on request.
OUTSIDE
Enjoy our two creek-fed ponds — one with its own dock for swimming, sunning, and jumping. Inner tubes and balance kayaks provided. There is a covered porch with outdoor dining and an outdoor shower for post-swim rinses. A large patio has comfortable seating for six, loungers, a gas fire pit, a charcoal grill, and a small outdoor bar area. The grill and bar area are covered by the shed roof, so you can grill in any weather.
You’ll have fifty acres to roam. Dad has built marked hiking trails through the woods, and a gentle mown path circles the hayfield. The farm road connects directly to 5+ miles of the flat neighborhood trails which are our neighborhood treasure. They wind along the creeks and river on our corner of the Rockfish Valley. The only houses on our road belong to the farm — despite being minutes from everything, we are exceptionally privately located.
The goats and hens are up the hill. Come visit! Coordinate with Elise and she'll arrange for you to feed them.
THE DETAILS
Fast fiber internet for the work-from-farm dream. Amazon Fire TV. Bluetooth surround-sound stereo. Full laundry. Mudroom. Electricity provided by solar panels in the adjacent hay field.
A curated micro-store up the hill carries farm products, art, pottery, and textiles. Elise is happy to give you a tour of her studio— just ask!
This is a historic schoolhouse and a beloved family home. We try to be exceptional stewards of it, and we hope you will too.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Devils Backbone is 2 minutes away. Blue Toad Cidery is 3. The Blue Ridge Parkway is 8 minutes. Shenandoah National Park is 25. Our Saturday farmer's market is wonderful. Before you arrive, we'll send our locally curated guide to All The Best Things — little-known hikes, nearly-unknown treasures, honest neighborhood recommendations.
A guest recently told me it was the best Google Doc she'd ever read.
BY CAR:
Devils Backbone Brewery: 2 min
Blue Toad Cidery: 3 min
Bold Rock Cidery: 4 min
Caihailian Vineyard: 5 min
Three-Notch'd Brewery & Distillery: 6 min
Nellysford (grocery, restaurants): 7 min
Blue Ridge Parkway & Appalachian Trail: 8 min
Hilltop Berry Winery: 10 min
Wintergreen Resort: 10 min
Silverback Distillery: 13 min
Blue Mountain Brewery: 15 min
Wild Man Dan Microbrewery: 15 min
Veritas Vineyard: 20 min
Afton Mountain Vineyard: 22 min
Hazy Mountain Vineyard: 22 min
Flying Fox Winery: 23 min
Skyline Drive / Shenandoah National Park: 30 min
Guest access
The School House is on an organically farmed homestead— the main farm house is up the hill, where your hosts Elise and Preston live. The Schoolhouse has its own driveway, and private ponds. Enjoy blue herons, wild turkeys, red foxes, and songbirds off the porch in the early morning.
The School House is my parents’ part-time home, and we are delighted to be able to share it. (Our guest cottage airbnb.com/h/SpindleHill has become so popular, and we are so happy to now be able to host larger groups.)
You will some some bins in closets labeled “owners” but the drawers and closets are empty. The office and main closet will be locked. Although a beloved family home part of the year, this home is also an exceptional rental.
SPINDLE HILL FARM
If you have children, they might enjoy walking up the hill to visit our colorful hens. Our miniature goats are easily accessible from the Schoolhouse— their paddock is a bit up the hill.
PETS
We are happy to host one pet. But please leash your dog outside, and dogs must be crated if left alone in the house. We also have a farm dog and barn cats who patrol the property, so please take that into consideration.
EV CHARGING
A NEMA 14-50 plug and J1772 EV charger are available for guest use. We also use the charger (it’s connected to the farm’s solar panels) so we may be in touch to coordinate charging our EV.
WALKING & HIKING
My father has been building lovely trails through our acres of woods, and they are clearly marked. We also have an easy-to-walk mown path around our hay field with splendid mountain views.
Our neighborhood also has wonderful system of flat walking trails, following the Rockfish River and its streams, which are accessible by foot.
ART STUDIO TOURS
Elise's art studio is up the hill, and includes a small store with her current ceramics and paintings, open by request. She also hosts classes through Airbnb Experiences— check them out!
Other things to note
HEATING & COOLING
The Schoolhouse is air-conditioned and heated by mini-splits. The gas fireplace serves as an additional heat source in the winter— it heats very efficiently, but cannot be left on if the house is empty.
The master bathroom’s bathtub can take a while to heat up. We recommend using the tub in the smaller bathroom in the winter.
MOBILE COVERAGE & INTERNET
We cannot promise that your cell carrier will cover you here. Most do, though. Please be aware of your plan’s coverage. The School House does have VERY high speed fiber internet— it’s great for remote working.
If you're booking last minute, know that we do keep the calendar up-to-date, so you can trust the availability you see here.
DEVIL'S BACKBONE
Devil’s Backbone Brewery, which is an easy half-mile walk away, occasionally hosts live music events. Weekend guests may hear live music from the brewery while in our property (often from well known bands). Most guests love this, but you might check their event schedule online.
Conversely, if you don’t want to buy tickets, you can see some great acts from our dirt road!
IDEAL GUESTS
Our most satisfied guests seem to be couples, small groups of friends, or families. Please be aware the Schoolhouse is just that-- a converted 1932 School House. It has quirks! Those seeking suburban accommodations will perhaps be happier at the ski resort. But those seeking stylish simplicity & quiet will be very happy here— this is a reader’s cottage. It's truly a uniquely lovely space on a beloved piece of property.
PETS
We are happy to host one pet. Please leash your dog outside, and pets must be crated when left alone in the house. Please be aware that the property is not fenced. You may see some barn cats, depending on their interest in you.
WILDLIFE
We live in the mountains, and humans are the minority species here! Urban dwellers may be surprised to see some insects inside, depending on the season. We vacuum these bugs away, and a lightweight vacuum is provided for guests to do the same. We do set traps and use targeted sprays, but at certain times, especially in the spring and fall, lady bugs and stink bugs are impossible to fully eliminate, despite our best efforts.
FISHING
You are welcome to bring tackle and fish in the pond. There are bass in it.
PRICE
The total nightly price includes Airbnb’s 15.5% service fee, Virginia’s 5.3% sales tax, and our country’s 7% Transient Occupancy Tax, and the living wage we pay our cleaner.
The space
This is a one-of-a-kind treasure that we are proud to steward! The historic Rosenwald-style schoolhouse at Spindle Hill Farm sits on 50-acres in the heart of Nelson County — solar powered, pond-fed, and unlike anything else in our area. We are the fourth private owner since the school closed, and we've tried to be exceptional caretakers of its history: the original enormous window bank, the hardwood floors, and the bones of the building are all intact. What we've added is color, art, comfort, and a kitchen that means business.
It's our beloved family home, and we're excited to share it.
THE GREAT ROOM
The original schoolhouse windows flood the great room with extraordinary light and frame views of two creek-fed ponds and the Blue Ridge Mountains beyond. It's a stunning space. Hardwood floors from the original construction, original art, locally sourced antiques, a large comfortable sofa, and a dining table that seats 8-10. Built-in bookshelves hold board games, puzzles, and books for children and adults — including a collection of local history and nature guides.
THE KITCHEN: small but mighty!
Incorporated into the great room and stocked like it means it. With an LG induction stove with convection oven, Bosch dishwasher, full-size fridge, microwave. We have a drip machine, grinder, French press, and Chemex for coffee. Blender, food processor, rice cooker, and — yes — a tortilla press. China, table linens, pottery, pans for every shape of cake, and casseroles galore. Our local wine shop, Basic Necessities, will suggest exactly the right bottle — pick it up on your way home to the porch.
THE BEDROOMS
Three bedrooms sleep six, with real privacy between them.
The primary bedroom has an organic latex queen bed, an antique chest of drawers, and a large en-suite bathroom with a separate soaking tub and shower. There is also ample closet space and many mirrors for primping!
The pink bedroom is so lovely — windows on two sides, a comfortable double bed, a generous desk for anyone who needs to sneak in some work, and a large closet stocked with yoga and PT supplies. The vibrant teal hall bathroom is right next door, with a tub and shower.
The third bedroom is papered in 1930s wallpaper and has a very comfortable latex Murphy bed — a beautiful, characterful room that’s set a bit apart from the others. (Please note that this room doesn’t have any window treatments).
OEKO-tex certified European linen and organic cotton sheets throughout. We use environmentally conscious bath and cleaning products and sustainable paper goods. You will love our pure, delicious well water — leave the bottled water at home— the water is why we have so many breweries in the neighborhood!
Portable Baby Björn crib available on request.
OUTSIDE
Enjoy our two creek-fed ponds — one with its own dock for swimming, sunning, and jumping. Inner tubes and balance kayaks provided. There is a covered porch with outdoor dining and an outdoor shower for post-swim rinses. A large patio has comfortable seating for six, loungers, a gas fire pit, a charcoal grill, and a small outdoor bar area. The grill and bar area are covered by the shed roof, so you can grill in any weather.
You’ll have fifty acres to roam. Dad has built marked hiking trails through the woods, and a gentle mown path circles the hayfield. The farm road connects directly to 5+ miles of the flat neighborhood trails which are our neighborhood treasure. They wind along the creeks and river on our corner of the Rockfish Valley. The only houses on our road belong to the farm — despite being minutes from everything, we are exceptionally privately located.
The goats and hens are up the hill. Come visit! Coordinate with Elise and she'll arrange for you to feed them.
THE DETAILS
Fast fiber internet for the work-from-farm dream. Amazon Fire TV. Bluetooth surround-sound stereo. Full laundry. Mudroom. Electricity provided by solar panels in the adjacent hay field.
A curated micro-store up the hill carries farm products, art, pottery, and textiles. Elise is happy to give you a tour of her studio— just ask!
This is a historic schoolhouse and a beloved family home. We try to be exceptional stewards of it, and we hope you will too.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Devils Backbone is 2 minutes away. Blue Toad Cidery is 3. The Blue Ridge Parkway is 8 minutes. Shenandoah National Park is 25. Our Saturday farmer's market is wonderful. Before you arrive, we'll send our locally curated guide to All The Best Things — little-known hikes, nearly-unknown treasures, honest neighborhood recommendations.
A guest recently told me it was the best Google Doc she'd ever read.
BY CAR:
Devils Backbone Brewery: 2 min
Blue Toad Cidery: 3 min
Bold Rock Cidery: 4 min
Caihailian Vineyard: 5 min
Three-Notch'd Brewery & Distillery: 6 min
Nellysford (grocery, restaurants): 7 min
Blue Ridge Parkway & Appalachian Trail: 8 min
Hilltop Berry Winery: 10 min
Wintergreen Resort: 10 min
Silverback Distillery: 13 min
Blue Mountain Brewery: 15 min
Wild Man Dan Microbrewery: 15 min
Veritas Vineyard: 20 min
Afton Mountain Vineyard: 22 min
Hazy Mountain Vineyard: 22 min
Flying Fox Winery: 23 min
Skyline Drive / Shenandoah National Park: 30 min
Guest access
The School House is on an organically farmed homestead— the main farm house is up the hill, where your hosts Elise and Preston live. The Schoolhouse has its own driveway, and private ponds. Enjoy blue herons, wild turkeys, red foxes, and songbirds off the porch in the early morning.
The School House is my parents’ part-time home, and we are delighted to be able to share it. (Our guest cottage airbnb.com/h/SpindleHill has become so popular, and we are so happy to now be able to host larger groups.)
You will some some bins in closets labeled “owners” but the drawers and closets are empty. The office and main closet will be locked. Although a beloved family home part of the year, this home is also an exceptional rental.
SPINDLE HILL FARM
If you have children, they might enjoy walking up the hill to visit our colorful hens. Our miniature goats are easily accessible from the Schoolhouse— their paddock is a bit up the hill.
PETS
We are happy to host one pet. But please leash your dog outside, and dogs must be crated if left alone in the house. We also have a farm dog and barn cats who patrol the property, so please take that into consideration.
EV CHARGING
A NEMA 14-50 plug and J1772 EV charger are available for guest use. We also use the charger (it’s connected to the farm’s solar panels) so we may be in touch to coordinate charging our EV.
WALKING & HIKING
My father has been building lovely trails through our acres of woods, and they are clearly marked. We also have an easy-to-walk mown path around our hay field with splendid mountain views.
Our neighborhood also has wonderful system of flat walking trails, following the Rockfish River and its streams, which are accessible by foot.
ART STUDIO TOURS
Elise's art studio is up the hill, and includes a small store with her current ceramics and paintings, open by request. She also hosts classes through Airbnb Experiences— check them out!
Other things to note
HEATING & COOLING
The Schoolhouse is air-conditioned and heated by mini-splits. The gas fireplace serves as an additional heat source in the winter— it heats very efficiently, but cannot be left on if the house is empty.
The master bathroom’s bathtub can take a while to heat up. We recommend using the tub in the smaller bathroom in the winter.
MOBILE COVERAGE & INTERNET
We cannot promise that your cell carrier will cover you here. Most do, though. Please be aware of your plan’s coverage. The School House does have VERY high speed fiber internet— it’s great for remote working.
If you're booking last minute, know that we do keep the calendar up-to-date, so you can trust the availability you see here.
DEVIL'S BACKBONE
Devil’s Backbone Brewery, which is an easy half-mile walk away, occasionally hosts live music events. Weekend guests may hear live music from the brewery while in our property (often from well known bands). Most guests love this, but you might check their event schedule online.
Conversely, if you don’t want to buy tickets, you can see some great acts from our dirt road!
IDEAL GUESTS
Our most satisfied guests seem to be couples, small groups of friends, or families. Please be aware the Schoolhouse is just that-- a converted 1932 School House. It has quirks! Those seeking suburban accommodations will perhaps be happier at the ski resort. But those seeking stylish simplicity & quiet will be very happy here— this is a reader’s cottage. It's truly a uniquely lovely space on a beloved piece of property.
PETS
We are happy to host one pet. Please leash your dog outside, and pets must be crated when left alone in the house. Please be aware that the property is not fenced. You may see some barn cats, depending on their interest in you.
WILDLIFE
We live in the mountains, and humans are the minority species here! Urban dwellers may be surprised to see some insects inside, depending on the season. We vacuum these bugs away, and a lightweight vacuum is provided for guests to do the same. We do set traps and use targeted sprays, but at certain times, especially in the spring and fall, lady bugs and stink bugs are impossible to fully eliminate, despite our best efforts.
FISHING
You are welcome to bring tackle and fish in the pond. There are bass in it.
PRICE
The total nightly price includes Airbnb’s 15.5% service fee, Virginia’s 5.3% sales tax, and our country’s 7% Transient Occupancy Tax, and the living wage we pay our cleaner.
Where you’ll sleep
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What this place offers
Lake view
Mountain view
Waterfront
Kitchen
Fast wifi – 102 Mbps
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Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 23 reviews.
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This home is in the top 1% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews, and reliability
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Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness
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Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for value
Guests mention
Where you’ll be
Nellysford, Virginia, United States
Exact location will be provided after booking.
Neighborhood highlights
Located in a friendly, diverse neighborhood of wineries, breweries, sustainable farms, and artisans, there are always interesting things to see, listen to, and consume.
Despite its privacy, the School house is only a 5-10 minute walk (.3 miles) to Devil's Backbone Brewing Company and restaurant and a mile walk on public footpaths to Bold Rock Cidery and Brew Pub (tastings and tours), and 2.5 miles to Wild Wolf Brewery and Restaurant. Many, many other wineries and breweries within a short drive. We're located close to the restaurants of Nellysford, 25 minutes from Waynesboro and its splendid Kline's ice cream, (And large grocery stores providing grocery pickup options) and only 35 minutes from Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. And a three minute drive to The Blue Ridge Pig (an acclaimed BBQ joint), and Basic Necessities, a wonderful wine shop and bistro which also stocks delicious artisan breads, pastry, and cheese.
Pick apples, peaches, berries, or pumpkins at one of the many local farms. Drop by our bountiful Saturday's farmer's market. Buy local organic breads from 3 different bakeries. Visit the studios on the Monticello Artisan Network. Swim to the tiny island in lovely Sherando lake, the legacy of the WPA. Visit the Rockfish Valley Natural History Museum’s lovely natural playground less than two miles away.
Despite its privacy, the School house is only a 5-10 minute walk (.3 miles) to Devil's Backbone Brewing Company and restaurant and a mile walk on public footpaths to Bold Rock Cidery and Brew Pub (tastings and tours), and 2.5 miles to Wild Wolf Brewery and Restaurant. Many, many other wineries and breweries within a short drive. We're located close to the restaurants of Nellysford, 25 minutes from Waynesboro and its splendid Kline's ice cream, (And large grocery stores providing grocery pickup options) and only 35 minutes from Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. And a three minute drive to The Blue Ridge Pig (an acclaimed BBQ joint), and Basic Necessities, a wonderful wine shop and bistro which also stocks delicious artisan breads, pastry, and cheese.
Pick apples, peaches, berries, or pumpkins at one of the many local farms. Drop by our bountiful Saturday's farmer's market. Buy local organic breads from 3 different bakeries. Visit the studios on the Monticello Artisan Network. Swim to the tiny island in lovely Sherando lake, the legacy of the WPA. Visit the Rockfish Valley Natural History Museum’s lovely natural playground less than two miles away.
Meet your host
Born in the 70s
My work: Painter & Ceramicist
My husband and I moved from Memphis, where I taught English at a small college and where he wrote his first book, to return to the beautiful Rockfish Valley. We love our farm, our neighborhood, and sharing it. We both work from our home studios-- he writes books, I paint.
In 2020 Airbnb tapped me to mentor new hosts & now I also consult with hosts, and co-host special local properties, helping folks host with intention and joy.
Elise is a Superhost
Host details
Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
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